Poem: Empathy for Drug Addicts

I bet 99% of you would raise your hand if I asked, “Do you know of anyone who has a drug addiction?” It is an epidemic. And yes, it can happen to anyone. I lost one of my best friends in high school to a drug overdose. Even to this day, I have dreams about him. It affects us all.

Society likes to put the blame on addicts since they made the decision to put the drug in their mouth or arm. But it is much more complicated than that. People have genetic predispositions to addictive personalities. In some cases, they may have been physically pressured into using a drug from a controlling person.

When I talk to people who have abused drugs, most of them would say they hate their addiction. They want help. They even admit they need help, but they also fight against irrational thoughts. Addicts deceive themselves into believing they don’t have a problem so they can run right back to the high, knowing full well they will eventually crash.

In the end, I believe all of us need to show more compassion. There are friends and family members that struggle with this addiction. Maybe even you struggle with this addiction. I just want you to know that there is a God who cares. A God who gives people the power to overcome any obstacle. When I was addicted to tobacco, the Lord revealed to me 1 Corinthians 10:13: “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”

May God give all of us the strength and courage to help all who go down to this abyss so they can live a life of freedom and joy. Amen.